Scientists are one step closer to eradicating inherited diseases by correcting faulty genes

A new technique called 'chemical surgery' was used to cut out a single mutated letter of DNA, which will help correct faulty genes in embryos

Revealed

By Nick McDermott, Health Editor

29th September 2017, 3:46 am

Updated: 29th September 2017, 4:18 am

SCIENTISTS are a step closer to eradicating inherited disease after correcting a faulty gene in human embryos.

They used new technique “chemical surgery” to cut out a single mutated letter of DNA.

Alamy

A new technique called 'chemical surgery' can cut out a single mutated letter of DNA

Replacing it with the correct one fixed the fault that causes the blood disorder beta-thalassemia.

There are three billion letters in the human genetic code and a single error causes two-thirds of hereditary diseases.

Experts hope the Chinese team’s approach can be refined to treat them.

In the study, published in the journal Protein and Cell, scientists scanned the embryos to find the lone mutation.

They then used a gene editing tool to replace it.

British experts hailed the work as “highly significant” but warned real-world use was far off.

Alamy

A single error causes two-thirds of hereditary diseases

Dr Junjiu Huang, of Sun Yat-sen University, said: “We are the first to demonstrate the feasibility of curing human genetic ­disease by base editor system (chemical surgery).” No embryos were used to produce babies.

The findings follow a US study which used gene editing technique Crispr to correct larger sections of faulty DNA in human embryos.

Alamy

There are three billion letters in the human genetic code

MOST READ IN HEALTH NEWS

GENDER PAY GAP

Top doctors in NHS earn £14,000 a year more if they are men, figures show

SLEEPING BEAUTIES

These kids can't talk and are bed-bound for years, but medically healthy

DOCS 'IGNORE' PLEAS

Heart patient died after medics failed to act on test results and pleas

Donor kebab

Scientists set to grow first human donor organ in a sheep for the first time

BE LAZY

Cleaning house with harmful chemicals worse than smoking 20 a day, experts warn

ONE HIT WONDER

Drug that CURES flu, killing the bug in 24hrs could be available next year